In this Men on the Move episode, host Ms. Wanda welcomes Sacramento native and entrepreneur Ray Harrington Jr., founder of Mad Scientist Creations Cocktail Distribution and Private Party Services.

Ray’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and service. From working in the restaurant and casino industries to launching his business during the pandemic, Ray has built a company rooted in creativity and excellence. His mission goes beyond drinks—he is passionate about mentoring Black and Brown entrepreneurs to succeed in the service industry and helping individuals navigate pathways to careers with the State of California.

Listeners will hear Ray’s reflections on:

• How his faith grounds him and fuels his desire to serve the community.

• His dedication to ensuring every client—at weddings, parties, or corporate events—feels valued through exceptional service and carefully crafted cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

• Why customer service, cultural respect, and attention to detail are the foundation of Mad Scientist Creations.

• His vision to uplift others by sharing his expertise and creating opportunities for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

• The addition of his community event space, available for rent, as another way to bring people together and build community.

Ray’s story reminds us that entrepreneurship is not just about business—it’s about service, legacy, and using your gifts to lift others.

Call to Action:
Bring the Mad Scientist Creations experience to your next event. Schedule a consultation today and follow Ray on Instagram at @madscientistcreates to learn more about his cocktail services, private parties, and community event space.

This episode of Full Circle Men on the Move was a dynamic and powerful conversation with actor and director François Battiste.

We began with Between Riverside and Crazy, the latest production at Celebration Arts (October 3–19), and explored its themes of resilience, housing, and family struggle. But our discussion went far beyond the play. François shared his remarkable career highlights on stage and television, and we bonded over our mutual love of the theatre.

A passionate advocate for justice, François also reflected on the recent attacks on free speech, the importance of telling our own stories, and the urgent need to recognize and preserve history in the face of current efforts to erase Black history and culture.

He also shared about life as a proud father of three, including his son’s upcoming starring role in a new Apple TV series, and spoke about the family support system he’s found here in Sacramento that helps keep him grounded.

This was an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation you don’t want to miss.

Call to Action:
Between Riverside and Crazy runs October 3–19 at Celebration Arts in Sacramento. Tickets are on sale now at celebrationarts.net. Don’t wait—just like every Celebration Arts production, this show will sell out.

From Incarceration to being named as one of the Sacramento Bee's Top 20 Black Changemakers is a defining Full Circle moment!

This Full Circle Men on the Move episode with Wajuba McDuffy was nothing short of powerful. Wajuba opened up about growing up without a father figure, which left a void that was quickly filled by the streets. Seeking attention and validation, he joined a gang at 12 years old—a story that mirrors the experience of so many of our youth today.

He also shared how hopelessness consumed him after being sentenced to life without parole at just 17. Yet, inside those walls, Wajuba found a spark. Through programming, therapy, and mentorship, he began the hard work of healing. With the help of California legislation and a determined attorney, he walked free after 22 years—and has since dedicated his life to giving others the hope he once longed for.

This is more than just his story—it’s a story of transformation, redemption, and the belief that second chances matter.

Call to Action: Share this episode with your family, friends, and especially our youth. Let them hear how hope can rise out of hopelessness, and how the cycle can be broken. Together, we can be part of the change.

On this episode of Full Circle, we welcome sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, also known as AC², the dynamic duo behind AC Creative Collective. Based in Charlotte, NC, AC Creative Collective provides end-to-end project management, marketing, and design solutions for clients. They can help YOU clarify your business voice, attract high-value clients, and grow with full-service marketing systems designed for ROI.Amoura, CEO and Founder, brings over 10 years in education and 7 years in project management, while Avery, Creative Director, offers a decade of expertise in nonprofit, B2B, and corporate marketing. Together, they’ve built a family-owned business that’s 90% women-led, rooted in collaboration, mentorship, and innovation.

We explore:

• The journey from individual careers to launching a joint venture.

• What it’s like to build and grow a business with family.

• How economic shifts shaped their pivot to entrepreneurship.

• Why mentorship and community are essential for women in business.

Key Takeaway: You can become an entrepreneur at any age, and the challenges along the way are opportunities to pivot, grow, and thrive. AC Creative Collective is your go-to for full-service marketing

Call to Action:
Learn more about AC Creative Collective their services and how you can work with them. Follow them on social media @ac_creative_collective and support women-owned businesses that are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape.

When life throws you more than your fair share of storms, how do you keep standing? In this episode of Full Circle, Ms. Wanda sits down with Chenique Jackson, LMFT, Cherney Jackson, and Tracy Johnson to unpack the art of resilience — the mental, emotional, and even style-based tools that help you keep going when life keeps “life-ing.”

This conversation is a sneak peek into their upcoming in-person workshop Resilience – How to Life When Life is Li-fing, happening Saturday, September 20th from 9am – Noon. Together, they share practical coping strategies, ways to reframe negative thoughts, tips for finding the right therapist, how to build a capsule wardrobe that boosts confidence, and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive relationships.

Whether you’re dealing with grief, job loss, financial hardship, health struggles — or all of the above — this episode is your reminder that you can still stand tall, even in the storm.

Register for the September 20th workshop today:

Topics Covered:

• Defining resilience in today’s world

• How to seek and select the right therapist

• The power of affirmations and mindset shifts

• Building confidence through personal style

• Cultivating supportive relationships and community

• Self-care as a foundation for resilience

Attend the workshop: Saturday, September 20 | 9am – Noon — https://www.cherneyjackson.com/

You'll be glad you did!

Guests:

• K-Love the Poet – Spoken word artist and creator of the Art of Sistahood Brunch and Day Party Tour

• Dr. Teah Hairston-Johnson – Founder of Be Love Holistic, advocate for holistic healing and community wellness

In this powerful episode of Full Circle, we explore the heart of Black women’s empowerment through the lens of sisterhood, friendship, and community. K-Love the Poet and Dr. Teah Hairston-Johnson share their personal journeys and insights on:

• The foundations of sisterhood and how it shapes identity

• Navigating friendships among Black women with intention and grace

• The importance of finding your tribe and building spaces for healing

• How community support can transform lives and foster resilience

• The role of holistic wellness in sustaining sisterhood

Listeners are treated to soul-stirring spoken word performance by K-Love, offering a glimpse of what’s to come at the Art of Sistahood Brunch and Day Party Tour.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this movement in person. Gather your girlfriends and purchase your tickets to the Art of Sistahood Brunch and Day Party Tour.

VIP tickets available. This event will sell out.

Connect with the Guests:

• K-Love the Poet: @klovethepoet

• Dr. Teah Hairston-Johnson: @beloveholistic

Full Circle returns from its summer sabbatical with a life-affirming conversation to kick off August, which is Multicultural Donor Awareness Month.

Angelika Williams, Senior External Affairs Coordinator with Sierra Donor Services, joins Ms. Wanda for a heartfelt discussion about health equity, building trust in healthcare, and the vital need for organ, eye, and tissue donors within multicultural communities.

Angelika shares powerful insights on:

• Why communities of color are disproportionately represented on transplant waitlists

• Common myths and barriers surrounding donation in Black and Brown communities

• How Sierra Donor Services is engaging through schools, DMVs, and community partnerships

• The importance of talking with your family and making your decision known

This episode is both a celebration of the lives saved by donation and a call to action to make your own legacy one of healing and hope.

Take Action:

• Visit sierradonor.org to learn more

• Register to become a donor at registerme.org

• Share your decision with your family—your voice matters

In this empowering episode of Full Circle, host Ms. Wanda welcomes the visionary creator of the Limitation to Liberation Experience—a full-day, wellness-centered professional development journey taking place on August 29th.

Together, they explore what it means to honor the transition moments in our lives, how professional women can reclaim their wellness, and why reflection and rest are revolutionary. Whether you're pivoting in your career or simply need a moment to reconnect with your "why," this conversation is for you.

You’ll hear how the experience blends restorative practices, community, nourishing meals, and intentional surprises to support women across industries—from corporate to education, healthcare to entrepreneurship.

Topics Covered:

• How the Limitation to Liberation Experience came to life

• What wellness-centered professional development really looks like

• Why women in transition need intentional space to pause and be cared for

• What participants can expect on August 29th

• How to recognize when it’s time to realign professionally or personally

Call to Action:
Join the journey from Limitation to Liberation on August 29th.

Learn more and register for the event

In this powerful episode of Full Circle, Ms. Wanda welcomes author, certified coach, and speaker Gloria Bailey-Ray, who shares her raw, real-life journey of recognizing her worth and walking away from emotional manipulation.

Gloria opens up about the heartbreaking moment she discovered her live-in partner was married—with another woman—and how that revelation ignited her path to healing, truth, and empowerment.

Her new book, When To Get Up From The Table: When Love Isn’t Being Served (out now), is more than a relationship book—it’s a call to rise.

In This Episode:

• Gloria’s personal story of betrayal and spiritual awakening

• Why so many people settle for “crumbs” in love and work

• How to recognize red flags and toxic patterns

• The power of setting boundaries and honoring your worth

• The emotional, spiritual, and practical tools in her new book

• Gloria’s speaking tour plans and how you can book her for your event

Call to Action:
Order the book: www.GloriaBaileyRay.com
Book Gloria to speak at your next conference, women’s empowerment event, or leadership retreat.

Guest Info:

• Website: www.GloriaBaileyRay.com

• Instagram: @gloriabailey_ray

• Speaking Inquiries: [email protected]

In this episode of Full Circle, Ms. Wanda welcomes tech innovators Adriana Lamar and Cheneé Williams, co-founders of Geo Lanes, an AI-powered exploration and travel app designed to help users connect more deeply with the places around them.

More than just a travel app, Geo Lanes is a community-centric platform that integrates trusted voices, curated content, and real-time information to guide meaningful journeys—whether across the globe or in your own neighborhood.

Adriana, the CEO, shares the five-year journey to bring Geo Lanes to life—from concept to launch, partnerships, and getting the app into the Apple and Google Play stores. Cheneé, the CFO, dives into how she ensures operational sustainability and integrity, while also navigating the startup space as women of color in tech.

We explore the future of travel, innovation, and impact—from gamified experiences like scratch maps with celebrity-endorsed itineraries to AI-driven insights that elevate travel into connection and discovery.

Listeners also hear about:

• The importance of storytelling and local cultural insight in travel

• Venture capital challenges and networking strategies

• Upcoming Juneteenth curated itineraries

• The team’s value-based, iterative approach to growth

• How YOU can support: download the app, provide feedback, and share

Featured Topics & Questions:

• What makes Geo Lanes different from other travel or exploration apps?

• How did your personal and professional journeys shape the vision for Geo Lanes?

• What has it been like building a tech company as Black women navigating funding, growth, and visibility?

• What are some key features users can explore today, and what’s coming next?

• How can our listeners get involved and support the Geo Lanes mission?

Download & Get Involved:
📲 Download Geo Lanes today for FREE on Apple App Store and Google Play
🎯 Explore, learn, and share feedback to help shape future features
📣 Sign up for updates and special experiences: